Enter the e cigarette. Now this concept is something I have explored years before. Not only was the product brand spanking new at that time but it also SUCKED! The battery wouldn't last nearly long enough and the filter tipped cartridges would run out so fast I soon found myself spending more money on the cartridge replacements than I was on smoking. How stupid is that, and at the time, there were no workarounds when it came to even attempting to refill said cartridges. Pissed and out some major cash I dumped the whole proposition. These days are different.
I admit my attempt with the Tornado was out of impatience. I ordered a Blu e-cigarette and waited, and waited, and still it did not arrive. Not only that but I was still a little concerned about how long the battery would last in the Blu and figured I would do a little research. I found a new system out there called a "tank" system that allowed the user to simply add e-cigarette liquid (or Juice, as the cool kids call it) to the tip of the device, insert it back into the thing, and smoke (or vape as it were) away! And the Juice comes in so many flavors there is never a chance of getting bored. With my Blu not shipping yet I decided what the hell and ordered the Tornado Tank, figuring I would use the Blu when out of the house (the Blu looks to be more like an actual cigarette...I will be reviewing this when I get it) and the Tornado while at home where I smoke more.
One of the first things I noticed was the size. I knew this would be larger than a traditional e-cigarette but was surprised at the compact design. This was not something that was huge by any means, probably the size of a smaller cigar. Here's a pic compared with your average pen so you can see with your own eyes:
As you can see there is a button on the gadget that the user presses to get the vapors flowing (it's on the silver collar in the middle). This makes the battery last a VERY long time (like 3+ hours). Their logo choice is odd, yet cool in a strange sort of way. A little devil smoking a cigarette. In fact their website is a little odd as well...in comic book format. Strange yet one of the best things I have ever tried in my life.
Being a heavy smoker I decided to consume only the highest level of nicotine that I could find (36mg). Now companies that manufacture Juice make these in levels all the way down to zero (which I think is a complete waste of time and money, and at the very least I would suggest someone using this level to lie and say it has some nicotine in it unless they are desiring a very public shaming for being an idiot) so there is a flavor level for everybody. The issue is that the higher you go the bigger "throat hit" you get off of it. This is the burning sensation that you feel as you inhale the vapor and with the highest level it is one hell of a hit! The first time I tried it I did as the instructions say, which is to take a light draw for longer than you would a normal cigarette. This produced a cough that was pretty much like my first drag off a regular cigarette. Not cool but in the end I just took smaller hits and I will be damned if I haven't had a real cigarette since.
I do have to admit that I am looking forward to receiving my Blu e-cigarette starter kit so I can look more natural in public situations instead of pulling this thing out and smoking it. I am particularly concerned with using it in my vehicle. If I were to pull up and see someone taking a pull off of something obviously larger than a cigarette and exhaling smoke my first assumption would not be that they were using a nicotine vaporizer...:)
My first full day of "vaping" I didn't really notice much as far as health goes. You have to remember that I have systematically destroyed my lungs for 23 years so one day isn't going to make that much of a difference as far as breathing easier goes, or so I thought. That night I was laying in bed watching TV before I went to sleep and after about 20 minutes of laying there I realized I was not wheezing, not coughing, and certainly not hacking up those lovely little lung oysters that every smoker knows so well. That was the moment I decided tobacco and I were through. If an herb can be heart broken I guess tobacco is still sobbing because I dumped it without a second thought. Heartless I know but in our 23 year relationship I think I have took my fair share of shit from that damn herb and still don't feel bad about kicking it to the curb.
There is one thing I do not plan on doing with this product (or the Blu for that matter) and that is smoking it in places that are deemed non-smoking. I see no reason to push the envelope and make a spectacle of myself by trying to be all-that and pull out something that produces a vapor that I inhale into my lungs which most of the general public will see as the act of smoking. Not going to happen, ever. I might try to sneak it sometimes, like in a theater, but in general it's going to be something that I treat like a regular tobacco cigarette.
If you are tired of the effects of tobacco on your body and in your life I suggest you give this a try. I feel that the best benefit is for somebody that smokes a pack or more a day and can't really give up the affair with nicotine.
They run about 70 bucks with super fast shipping. The company offers Juice as well and has stated that I should be only using their products as they are the ones that carry the line and only guarantee the safety of what they sell (both in quality and in keeping the Tornado in working order). This is up to the end user however, and there are other companies out there selling Juice in some pretty exotic flavors. If this route is chosen I wouldn't expect any refunds or even sympathy to any bitching on your part, and I am certainly in this group. I have to explore ALL the flavors!!!
Check it out here.
